By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
A 7-2 loss to the Cold Spring Rockies on Saturday, July 24, set the Eden Valley Hawks into the “losers” playoff game in the Central Valley League South at the Pearl Lake Lakers on Sunday where one of the teams would live to play for a spot in the regional tournament with Stearns County League, and the other would be finished for the year. Pearl Lake took the early lead, and a six-run sixth inning assured their win at 11-1, and thus ended the Hawks’ 2021 season.
Rudy Notch hit a double and a pair of singles for 2 RBI to lead the Hawks at bat. Nick Schmitt and Justin Kunkel each hit a double plus a single. Tommy Linn hit a double. Matt Fuchs hit 3 singles for 2 RBI. The Lakers were both more prolific and more efficient at bat, earning 11 runs on 14 hits as compared to the Hawks’ 1 run on 4 hits.
Noah Klinefelter earned the win for the Lakers, pitching the full game. He struck out 5 while limiting the Hawks to 1 run on 4 hits.
Tanner Olean took the loss for the Hawks, allowing 8 runs on 10 hits, and striking out 2 during his 5 innings on the mound. Austin Schlangen and Jackson Geislinger finished out the game allowing a combined 3 runs on 4 hits.
As in Saturday’s game at Cold Spring, Eden Valley’s hits were all singles. Jordan Kelm’s single in the fifth inning led to 1 RBI. The other singles were hit by Tanner Olean, Austin Schlangen, and Sam Nistler.
EDEN VALLEY AB R H BI
Tanner Olean 4 0 1 0
Jordan Kelm 2 0 1 1
Austin Schlangen 3 0 1 0
Sam Nistler 3 0 1 0
Jackson Geislinger 3 0 0 0
David Pennertz 2 0 0 0
Austin Berg 3 0 0 0
Matthew Pennertz 2 0 0 0
Stephen Pennertz 1 0 0 0
Matt Unterberger 1 1 0 0
Travis Thielen – – – –
Cain Renner – – – –
Jeff Haag – – – –
TOTALS 24 1 4 1
PEARL LAKE AB R H BI
Rudy Notch 5 2 3 2
Tommy Linn 4 1 1 0
Alex Lenzmeier 4 0 1 2
Ryan Wieneke 4 0 0 0
Justin Kunkel 4 1 2 1
Nick Schmitt 4 1 2 1
Andrew Schmitt 2 2 1 0
Brady Leverington 4 2 1 0
Matt Fuchs 4 2 3 2
Noah Klinefelter – – – –
TOTALS 35 11 14 8
R H E
Hawks 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x x 1 4 3
Lakers 0 2 0 0 2 6 1 x x 11 14 1